11 Best Chili Pepper Companion Plants

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Chili pepper does better when planted beside other plants that are beneficial to it. If you are looking for plants to pair with chili pepper, this is the right place for you.

In this article, we will discuss some of the best chili pepper companion plants out there, and some of the plants you shouldn’t plant with chili pepper.

Let’s get started!

Best Chili Pepper Companion Plants

Below are the popular chili pepper companion plants:

  • Dill
  • Basil
  • Rosemary
  • Carrots 
  • Aubergine
  • Bell peppers
  • Nasturtium
  • Geraniums
  • French marigold
  • Flowers
  • Cilantro

See Also: Best Red Twig Dogwood Companion Plants

1. Dill

This is one of the best companion plants for chili pepper, it is an annual herb, and it is used as one of the best recipes in the world. 

However, most farmers plant this chili not solely for beauty but because of its ability to deter pests. This plant has a fantastic ability to keep aphids and different spider mites away from the chili plant. 

Without this plant, aphids can greatly damage your plant. In addition to its ability to deter pests, many farmers plant fill to attract many insect pollinators. 

It has beautiful colors that are attractive, and at the same time great ability to deter pests, this combination makes it an ideal companion for your chili plant. 

2. Basil

This is the second type of plant that is mostly planted together with chili. Most farmers attest to its productivity and great pest-deterring features. 

There are so many types of basil and they all have something in common, which is the ability to deter pests such as spider mites, flies, thrips, and even mosquitoes. 

Most farmers have found this plant useful, especially if you’re living in a hot and humid climate.

Again, much of the basil pesto-deterring ability comes from the chemical in it, which is why it is the best companion for your chili pepper.

3. Rosemary

Rosemary is another popular plant that grows well with chili pepper, this plant is mostly used as a cover plant. 

It is grown very close to your chili, it helps to keep the soil cool and is ideal for your chili plant. If you’re planning to plant chili over a large area of land, you should plant rosemary together with your chili plant. 

It will keep the soil cool and help your plant to grow better.

4. Carrots

Many chili farmers recommend carrots as companion plants for this pepper, the reason is that carrots offer weed control, and in addition to that, it provides shade for the plant. 

However, you should not plant carrots too close to your peppers, when planting, you would like to keep the soil around your chili as cool as possible because this aids in effective growth and development. 

One of the factors to consider when planting carrots is to ensure that you get the spacing correctly.

If you do, you will understand that carrots are a very good companion plant that pairs very well with chili plants and several other vegetables.

5. Aubergine/eggplant

Eggplant has more in common with your chili than you think. First, they come from the same family of plants, and in addition to this, they are usually harvested at similar times of the year. 

One of the benefits of growing aubergine alongside chili is that it can save you valuable time while also helping you keep away pests from your chili, which makes it an ideal companion for your chili. 

If you wish to plant this aubergine, make sure you rotate your garden beds at least once a year to maintain soil fertility.

6. Bell Peppers 

This is one of the most popular companion plants for chili pepper, but for you to get the most out of a bell pepper companion it requires you to have some experience.

And this is because growing several pepper plants implies that you can create cross-breeds. 

Using this plant as a companion to your chili plant will help to prevent pests, in addition to this, its beautiful color will help to add a touch of beauty to your plant.

7. Nasturtium

Nasturtium is also a good plant that can grow with chili pepper and this is widely due to its powerful ability to deter pests and their edible flowers. 

Not only can they be eaten as food, they equally help to keep aphids, squash bugs, and whiteflies away. To get the best out of this, you need to plant them 30 to 60  apart from your pepper planes, planting them this way will help to keep pests away. 

Several species of this plant can equally attract pollinators, which helps ensure this plant’s continuity.

8. Geraniums

When it comes to planting space between this plant and chili, the same rule applies to this as to nasturtium. 

This plant is well noted for its incredible ability to keep out pests, especially the Japanese beetles, in addition to this, the leaves can paralyze or kill the pests which makes it easy for you to remove the beetles manually. 

In addition to all these, geranium adds color and beauty to your garden which helps to make it a site to behold.

9. French Marigold 

Planting a decent amount of french marigold with chili pepper can help greatly to repel pests such as nematodes and potato bugs. 

Some research claims that French marigolds can stimulate the effective growth of your pepper plants. 

You should consider planting them side by side with your chili pepper to ensure maximum growth and development.

10. Flowers

Flowers have been proven to be great companions for chili pepper, planting beautiful flowers, especially those with nice colors near your chili pepper plant, is a great way to invite pollinators.

These pollinators will ensure the continuity of your chili pepper, as they’re being pollinated, your chili pepper is being pollinated too.

One of the best types of flowers to grow is native flowers. They can deter pests while attracting pollinators at the same time. Most of the types of pollinators that are attracted are bees.

11. Cilantro

This is another suitable plant to grow with chili pepper, it can attract various beneficial insects that act as pollinating agents. 

In addition to this, it can deter pests, notable pests such as aphids which can cause damage to the chili pepper plants

In addition to this, the beautiful colors of cilantro seeds go a long way to add a touch of beauty to your chili pepper garden, especially when you plant your chili pepper indoors.

Can You Grow Tomatoes and Chili Pepper Together?

It is very feasible for you to grow peppers and tomatoes together, but to do this effectively, you must follow a straightforward principle which is spacing. 

You can easily grow most of the pepper varieties near one another because they favor hot and humid climates. However, tomatoes on the other hand, like to stretch and require enough airflow between the plants. 

If you wish to plant tomatoes side by side with chili we recommend you grow them in the same garden but make sure there is enough and sufficient spacing between them.

If you want to grow this year after year, you should rotate your garden. Doing this effectively will help to reduce the incidence of pests and diseases ruining your plants before they even get the chance to grow.

Plants You Should Not Plant With Chili Pepper

The good thing is that there are only a few types of plants that are not advisable to be used as companions for your chili. In this section of this article, we will discuss a few of them. 

1. Fennel

If you’re a farmer that loves fennel plant, it is advisable not to plant them together with your chili, the reason is that this plant gives off chemicals called pheromones which inhibits the growth of nearby vegetables, which includes chili plants 

2. Potatoes 

Another plant you shouldn’t grow close to your chili is the potato plant, they can easily spread diseases and pests to your plant. 

In addition, they compete equally with your chili for nutrients, which can lead to poor growth and development.

What Are The Benefits Of Companion Plants To Chili Pepper?

There are numerous benefits of companion plants, and in this section of this article, we will list a few of them. 

  • Deters pest
  • Encourages pollination
  • Creates a thriving ecosystem
  • Improves flavors 

1. Deters Pests 

One of the benefits of planting companion plants is that; with the right type of companion plant, you will be able to greatly reduce the risk of several common pepper pests, which will give your plant the needed room for effective growth and development.

2. Encourages Pollination 

Although some chili plants are self-pollinating, they sometimes require physical agitation for the best results. 

Planting good companion plants for your chili helps to attract pollinating agents which in turn helps your chili to multiply. 

3. Creates A Thriving Ecosystem

Most companion plants usually attract different beneficial insects and organisms that help to improve soil structure and fertility. 

All these add up to help your chili to grow effectively, thereby maintaining the ecological balance of nature.

4. Improves Flavor

Some types of companion plants are believed to help improve the taste of chili pepper when planted very close to each other.

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